American Beast (2014)

After spending a good bit of my day away from my computer, I decided to kick back and watch, what I had hoped would be an entertaining creature feature. Unfortunately, that was not the case with 2014s American Beast (AKA Solitude)

Plot/ After finding an old storage locker filled with his family's history, James Erikson begins a journey to discover the truth behind a mysterious piece of land in the small town of Solitude.

Sometimes you are surprised by movies and other times you cringe as ask yourself why. That was the case with this one, as I spent more time asking myself why I had not turned it off. As a fan of low budget cinema, I can often look past the traditional flaws and try to find the positives. In this case, everything seemed to be discordant and there was nothing new or original to make it worthwhile. The sound quality was miserable at best, the scripting was flat and predictable, the performances were uneven and cardboard and the entire film seemed to just drag on making the 89 minute run time feel like an eternity. Seriously, there is really nothing with this one that makes it worth watching. I honestly wish I had given up in the first fifteen or so minutes. Stay away.

Spirit in the Woods (2014)

Last night, I could not bring myself to a point to type up this review, I was so frustrated by the movie and the overwhelming amount of predictable and clichéd moments. What was that film? It was the 2014 no budget found footage flick Spirit in the Woods.

Plot/ The fate of five local college students who went missing in the infamous Spiritual Woods is finally unraveled as previously unreleased footage is made public for the first time. Long thought to be dead, the truth turns out to be much worse.

There are times where found footage can be used effectively and create something interesting. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true and the movies do not pan out even when they have a decent storyline. That was definitely the case with this film. While I do applaud any movie that grew out of a Kickstarter project, and I love no-budget horror, there are times when I just cannot relate or feel anything in a film, and for me, that happened with this film. In fact, I lost so much interest because of the lack of connection, that it did not create any type of reaction. The dialog was all over, the performances uneven at best, and much of it made very little sense (unless you can totally relate to wandering in the woods). Really, it just felt like a subpar version of the Blair Witch Project. In the end, even with my love of low budget and crowd-funded horror, I could not see anything that would make this worth watching again. Stay Away!

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)

I needed to take a break from the Sci-Fi and classic horror that has become commonplace throughout this Thanksgiving vacation. With college papers still due and a website needing built; I decided it was time to head back into a classic franchise for some motivational moments. My selection last night (and my next review) is the 1995 slasher Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.

Plot/ Six years after Michael Myers last terrorized Haddonfield, he returns there in pursuit of his niece, Jamie Lloyd, who has escaped with her newborn child, for which Michael and a mysterious cult have sinister plans.

I will be honest; I have pretty much stayed clear of the original Halloween series for some time. While I loved the first two back in my youth, it became a little overwhelming to see so many sequels come out. However, after suffering through San Andreas the other day, I decided that I want to venture back into this world and I was surprised by what I found. This movie was definitely interesting and not at all what I expected when I turned it on (I LOVE the cult aspect). The storyline is intriguing, the cast is one of the better ones for a sequel, as usual, the soundtrack was amazing, and the kills were enjoyable. Yes, there were some uneven moments and some of the dialog feels dated, but those do little to totally ruin the film. While not the best movie in the series, it is one of the more underrated sequels in the Halloween franchise, and a movie that definitely helped me get the miserable thoughts of San Andreas out of my head. In the end, this many not be a perfect Halloween movie, but it is better than some. If you enjoy the tales of Michael Myers, give it a shot—you could definitely do much worse.

The Gallows (2015)

After watching Jurassic World yesterday afternoon, I decided to kick back and watch something darker, something that fit into the feel of Halloween. After some thought, I decided on the 2015 movie The Gallows.  

Plot/ 20 years after a horrific accident during a small town school play, students at the school resurrect the failed show in a misguided attempt to honor the anniversary of the tragedy - but soon discover that some things are better left alone.

When I saw the trailer for this one, I was excited. Unfortunately, now that I have seen it, I should have known that the preview was too good to be true. Another found footage entry, this one suffers from some of the same issues that usually doom found footage horror movies, the storyline has way too many holes to make it hold up throughout. This one takes that flaw to a new level, leaving a myriad of unanswered questions. While the performances are decent, the lack of detailed storyline and overall choppy nature of the movie have nothing new, original, or entertaining. In fact, this one has no quality that will make it memorable and was not worth watching. Stay Away!

At the Devil's Door (2014)

After diving into a classic 1980s slasher last night, I decided it was time to venture into something different this evening after finishing my short story for my college class. My selection for the evening was the 2014 entry At the Devil’s Door.

Plot/ When ambitious young real estate agent Leigh is asked to sell a house with a checkered past, she crosses paths with a disturbed girl whom she learns is the runaway daughter of the couple selling the property. When Leigh tries to intervene and help her, she becomes entangled with a supernatural force that soon pulls Leigh's artist sister Vera into its web - and has sinister plans for both of them.

This is a strange movie to place. Not truly a horror film, but not really a thriller. Actually, it comes across as a touch of a disjointed anthology, which has some intriguing elements that do not blend together in a manner to create something memorable. Sure, the performances, cinematography, and production elements are top notch; items that make this one of the more technically sound flicks of the year. Unfortunately, the disjointed feel of the stories, slow pacing, and the unsatisfying ending truly hurt the overall tone. In the end, this one sits somewhere near the middle of the road with some elements that will draw people in, but enough to turn some off. Not for everyone, this supernatural driven demonic flick will either be loved or hated, with very little middle ground.

The Possession of Michael King (2014)

I hate when I have to pull a late night at the institute, it sets the rest of my week off. Of course, I could have probably just came home, but I will admit that the overtime will look nice on my next check. Getting back to the blog, the next film to review is the 2014 supernatural entry The Possession of Michael King.

Plot/ Michael King does not believe in God or the Devil. Following the sudden death of his wife, Michael decides to make his next film about the search for the existence of the supernatural, making himself the center of the experiment - allowing demonologists, necromancers, and various practitioners of the occult to try the deepest and darkest spells and rituals they can find on him - in the hopes that when they fail, he'll once and for all have proof that religion, spiritualism, and the paranormal are nothing more than myth.

To be honest, I had never heard of this film until I saw it at Family Video, and I had absolutely no idea what to expect. While what I found was not perfect, it definitely came with more positives than negatives. The storyline was interesting (although a touch undeveloped), a solid atmosphere, and enough pace to keep the viewer connected. Sure, there are some cliché moments, especially considering the found footage platform that sits at the base, but that is expected. In the end, this low budget freshman entry is rather entertaining and has just enough to make it a fun movie to watch. Of course, this may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy found footage flicks or non-slasher horror flicks, give it a whirl!

Torture Chamber (2013)

This has been a great movie weekend, and it continues to get better as I catch up on the DVR. Did anyone see Hannibal? That was awesome! To continue my work here, I have an interesting selection up next; the often overlooked Torture Chamber from 2013. 

Plot/ 13-year-old Jimmy Morgan is possessed by an evil too powerful to be exorcised by any religion. After escaping from a mental institution, Jimmy is back with a vengeance – and an army of children who follow his every murderous desire. 

This was an interesting movie from the start and a film that pulled me in and kept me engaged throughout. This low budget entry is full of dark atmosphere, sound imagery, and enough surreal moments that should make any horror fan excited. Yes, the acting is uneven and some of the texture of the cinematography may not be for everyone, but that is to be expected in a low budget entry. In the end, this is one of the more visually captivating and surreal trips in to darkness I have seen in some time. Not for everyone, as this one can definitely strike a cord some do not want struck, it is an outstanding example of what original horror can be. Most horror fans should definitely check this one out, and embrace the darkness created inside this low budget gem. 

The Last Exorcism Part 2 (2013)

As my week rolls on, I am moving closer toward my 1000th post here at The Ringmaster’s Realm. While I am not sure what flick will receive that honor, I am keeping an eye toward the future. Hopefully, I can find some type of decent indie flick to fill that spot. Until then, I must continue to push forward. My next selection is the 2013 sequel, The Last Exorcism Part 2.

Plot/ As Nell Sweetzer tries to build a new life after the events of the first movie, the evil force that once possessed her returns with an even more horrific plan.

I was not a huge fan of the first film. Yes, it was somewhat entertaining and had potential, but that potential was never realized. This movie was definitely an unneeded sequel and a film that had more than its share of issues. On top of that, it also lacked the spirited marketing campaign. Sure, there were some positives. The acting was solid and the cinematography was good, but the overall positives went away after that.  There was something missing in this movie, even in the unrated version that I watched.  The storyline felt forced and disjointed, there was no atmosphere or tension, and there was never any scares or terror. Honestly, it was one of the lamest sequels I have watched in some time. To me, this was a terrible attempt at a horror movie by a group that had a solid budget ($5 million). If you want to watch something involving and exorcism, check out the Discovery Channel, you may be able to find something with some more teeth. 

The Dark Side of the Moon (1990)

Last night I decided to take a break from the blog. I was honestly burnt out from debating people on twitter about the status of our Constitution and the actions that are taking place to infringe on out rights. Of course, it could have also been due to the headache that was caused by the whiteout condition I faced as I headed to the video store. That snowstorm sucked. Today, I decided jump back into the swing of things with a 1990 cult classic, The Dark Side of the Moon.

Plot/ It is the year 2022. A mysterious systems failure causes the crew of a spaceship to be stranded on the dark side of the moon, while rapidly running out of fuel and oxygen. They are surprised to discover a NASA space shuttle floating in space, and board it in the hope of salvaging some supplies. One by one, the crew is possessed and killed,

It is funny, I do not remember hearing about or seeing this flick when it came out in 1990. It is a shame, for I would have probably enjoyed it even more if I would have caught it then. Do not get me wrong, I enjoyed it. While some of the plot seemed a bit cliché, there was a lot to like about the interesting and weaving storyline. Technically, it was a solid film with decent acting, excellent cinematography and a dark dreary atmosphere that fit the premise perfectly. Sure, they may have bit off more than they could chew with demonic possessions, Satan, space shuttles and the Bermuda Triangle, but that is what a good “B Movie” does. Yes, there were some characterization issues, some moments feel outdated and some of the plot was incoherent, but to me it worked. In the end, this movie is entertaining and often goes overlooked. If you enjoy Sci-Fi / Horror flicks, give this vintage B Movie a shot.

Scary or Die (2012)

 

I took a break on Sunday, as it was time to unwind a bit. I have basically been on Conspiracy, Horror or Sci-Fi overload for the past few months. While I have been on this kick, I have also started up a newer project, updating one of my blogs to focus on conspiracies, documentaries and research. With the batteries recharged, I decided to watch a flick Jill picked for me at Family Video, Scary or Die from 2012.

 

 

Plot/ This movie tell five interwoven horror stories. There is a flesh-eating clown desperately trying to protect the person he craves the most, A dirty cop and a hit gone wrong with a vengeful Necromancer, a beautiful but mysterious woman and a lonely man looking for love in all the wrong places. There is a gruesome blood splattered uprising of Illegal Mexican Zombies, and a Cajun conjure grandfather whose gift of never ending love goes terribly awry.

 

 

My daughter picked this one out for me at Family Video, as she knows that evil clowns seem to crack me up. Honestly, I had seen it there, but never grabbed it and did not realize it was an anthology until I threw it on the computer. What I found was rather entertaining, something that took me back to the 1970s/1980s where anthologies were commonplace. While this was not the most coherent scripting and there is a lot of cliché, there is a genuine feel to it and a decent amount of blood.  It was also a tremendously entertaining flick that seemed to touch on many of the classic elements involved with anthologies. Yes, there are some flaws; with uneven acting, some places where the lower budget is evident and there is nothing new or notable in it that will make it memorable. In the end, this is far from a great anthology or movie, but it does have entertainment value, especially if you enjoy anthologies. Now, I would not go out of my way to plan an evening with this sitting as the centerpiece, but if you want something mindless with blood, check it out.